Duck Hunting season is O-V-E-R. My hubby might be a little sad, but I'm doing a little happy dance inside. I know he throughly enjoys it, and he and his friends look forward to their duck hunting time all year long. I know it lets him reconnect with nature, which he so enjoys. It lets him have time with the guys-which we all know is important in a marriage. But, I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty happy when the season is officially done. You duck hunter/deer hunter wives out there...can I get an Amen?

The kids and I have been on duck hunting trips with him, and because it's important we make memories as a family sharing in each other's passions. The kids usually are excited about riding on the 4-Wheeler or in the boat before sunrise. But that excitement lasts only a little bit before they are begging to go back to the house. "Mom, I'm freezing." "Mom, how much longer?" "Mom, I ready to go back." Of course, the whole time I'm having to tell them to whisper, because Daddy is busy calling in the ducks, and we've got to be quiet. I've bribed them with hot chocolate, junk food we picked up at the only gas station for miles, and prayed we bought enough Hot Hands to keep everyone warm in the blind. The kids are good sports though, but the minute we say it's over, and we're headed home, a collective sigh of relief is usually heard. Honestly, they have just as much fun running around the house the guys stay in during duck season. We let them run wild outside, they can eat anything they want, and they love the bunk bed room lined with rows and rows of bunks.

I have to say for me I didn't grow up in a hunting family. My dad enjoyed sports, but hunting wasn't his thing. So, I had to learn to "appreciate" hunting when Josh and I started dating. He, his dad and his brother are avid hunters, and he's been around it his whole life. Bless his mom for all those years she let the boys hunt! I'll never forget when Josh and I started dating, and I saw a Trivial Pursuit card displayed in his dad's office. The question was: What did Prince Charles say is "all right, but I find it interferes with my hunting?" Answer: Marriage

One of the things I have loved about going duck hunting really isn't about the hunting itself. It's about being that close to nature. I am mesmerized by watching the ducks come in. The sunrises are breathtaking on the water, and watching my man call in the ducks is pretty cool. I can't even make the duck call thing work right, so I know it's a talent. I love riding out on the water early in the morning before "life" has started. It's quiet; it's peaceful, and I'm literally in awe of God's creation. That's my word for the year-"awe". I want to live life in awe. I want to stop and take in the breathtaking scenery and not rush to the next task. I want to pause my life, you know the life that the world wants all of us to live at lightening speed. I want to live in the moment and take in everything around me. Ironically, my husband's favorite past-time allows me to do just that-be in awe!

8 days to Christmas-are y’all getting excited like my house is?!
.
We have some family Christmas 🎄 traditions that we look forward to each year.
.
We love attending the candlelight service at church on Christmas Eve. There’s something magical about singing hymns with just the glow of 🕯 surrounding you. As soon as we leave church, we eat Chinese-just like on #thechristmasstory
.
We also decided early on in our marriage not to give each other gifts on Christmas. Honestly, we tend to do so many house projects, we laugh and say our Christmas gifts are usually new flooring, new paint jobs or some other renovation project🤣
.
Speaking of gifts, when our kids were born we told Santa 🎅🏻 that he only needed to bring them 3 🎁 each. They think long and hard on what they want their three to be each year✨
.
This year, I’m excited to try a new gift exchange with my family. All the adults are bringing one “as seen on TV” gift, and we are playing a game to see who gets each gift!
.
Do you have a holiday tradition you look forward to each year? Drop your favorite below👇🏻

I’m dreaming of blue skies and the 🌊 today.
.
A few weeks ago, I conquered my fear of being out on a boat in the ocean to go deep-sea fishing 🐠 I also touched a fish for probably the first time in my life😜
.
I grew up fishing with my parents on Lake Graham, but I never baited my own hook or touched a fish when I caught one.
.
Looking back on this little 6-hour trip we took, if I had said “no” because I was scared, I would have missed seeing sea creatures I’d never seen before. I would have missed watching my daughter bait her own hook! I would have missed one of the best days out on the ocean with my family as we reeled in some pretty amazing fish 🎣 .
.
Saying “yes” even when we are scared can allow us to experience moments we otherwise would miss.
.
Dale Carnegie said, “If you want to conquer fear, don’t sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” Pretty good advice, if you ask me✨ #livethelittlethings #lifeofadventure

These two will leave our venue tonight as Mr. and Mrs.💕
.
Happy wedding day to Emily and John✨ 📷: @kristajoyphotography